Hammer



Eatented Jan. 25, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAMMER Marquis O'Neil Owens, Fort Dix, N. J. Application June 14, 1943, Serial No. 490,809 4 Claims. (01. 254-26) My invention relates to hammers, and has among its objects and advantages the provision of an improved adjustable claw wherein the latter may be adjusted to different positions to facilitate pulling nails without objectionably bending the nails.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a side view of a hammer in accord ance with my invention.

Figure 2 is an end View of the claw side.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of a claw latch button mounted in the handle of the hammer.

Figure 4 is an end viewof the hammer head with the claw detached. 5

Figure 5 is a detail view of a latch dog, and

Figure 6 is a view of the claw.

In the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration, I make use of a hammer head l0 comprising a body l2 to which a handle I4 is attached in the usual manner. This head also includes the usual striking formation Hi. My claw member I8 is attached to the head I 0 directly opposite the striking formation l8 so as to have the general location of conventional claws, and the member l0 may be adjusted to a position identical with that of the usual claw.

The member I8 is provided with a tapered slot 20 to divide the member into two claw elements 22, and the member has two flanges 24 which lie over recessed faces 26 on the body I 2. A pin 28 is passed through aligned openings 30 in the body l2 and the flanges 24 to pivotally connect the member l8 with the head l2. The outer faces of the flanges 24 he flush with the corresponding faces of the body l2.

Two plates 32 are attached to the body l2 by screws 34, which plates overlie the faces 26 and are spaced therefrom to provide spaces for the flanges 24. A claw latch 36 is pivotally connected between the plates 32 by a pin 38. This latch includes two dogs 40 lying in the planes of the flanges 24 to selectively engage in notches 42 in the flanges 24 to latch the claw members i8 against pivotal movement when nails are being pulled.

The latch 36 is actuated by a rod 44 threaded at 46 to a U-shaped element 48 pivotally connected at 50 with an ear 52 fixed to the latch 36. The pin 38 is located between the dogs 40 and the ear 52, so that the dogs may be pivoted from the flanges 24 through movement of the rod 44 in the direction of the member Hi. This rod passes through coaxial bores 54 and 56 in the handle I 4. A compression spring 58 is mounted on the rod 44 and is interposed between the shoulder 60 and a head 62 threaded on the rod.

A large bore 64 is provided in the grip end of the handle l4, into which bore is threaded a ring 66 which slidably guides a body 68 having a flange 1a engaging the head 62, and normally resting on the ring 66. To the body 68 is attached a button 10 which may be pressed inwardly to pivot the dogs 40 to disengaged positions.

In conventional hammers, the claw structure embodies curvature which functions as a fulcrum when nails are being pulled. This fulcrum is located close to the nail and is the cause of objectionable bending of the nail, particularly when the nail has been pulled a short distance. This bending increases as the nail is pulled out. It is a common practice to employ a fulcrum block as a rest for the hammer and move the block back as the nail is being pulled.

In the instant case, the claw member i8 may be adjusted to a position conforming to that of conventional claws. For nail pulling purposes, the claw member may be adjusted to diilerent positions to eliminate bending of the nails. The pulling may be started with a closely spaced fulcrum, but this fulcrum may be spaced farther from the nail by adjusting the claw member to diiferent positions.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain my invention, that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim:

1. In a hammer, the combination of a hammer head, a claw member pivotally connected with the head, a handle attached to said head, a latch dog pivotally mounted on said head, means operativeiy connected with said latch dog and guidably mounted on said handle to move the latch dog into and out of engagement with said claw member, and means on said claw member coacting with said latch dog to latch the claw member against pivotal movement.

2. In a hammer, the combination of a hammer head, a claw member having flanges lying face to face with said head and pivotally connected therewith, a latch dOg pivotally mounted on said head, means on said flanges coacting with said dog to latch the claw member against pivotal movement in different positions, and means for actuating said dog to move the latter into and out of latching engagement with said flanges.

3. The invention described in claim 2 wherein said head is provided with a handle, and in which said means is slidably guided by the handle.

4. The invention described in claim 2 wherein said head is provided with a handle having a. bore arranged at an angle to the axis of the handle, said means including a rod pivotally connected with said dog and having an end slidably guided in said bore, resilient means acting on said rod to shift the latter in one direction to yieldingly hold the dog in engagement with said flanges, and a button attached to said rodand accessible from one end of the handle to facilitate adjustment of the rod.

MARQUIS O. OWENS. 

